The meeting, held in the French Riviera resort town of Antibes, marked the first Franco-Italian summit since the implementation of the 2021 strategic partnership treaty that elevated relations between the two countries.

In a statement ahead of the talks, the French presidency stressed the importance of deeper collaboration in key sectors including defense, nuclear energy, and space, declaring that France and Italy “need each other.”

Relations between Macron and Meloni have often been strained due to ideological differences. Macron is a pro-European centrist, while Meloni leads a right-wing coalition in Italy. However, both leaders have recently sought to improve ties and enhance cooperation on common European challenges.

The summit comes shortly after Meloni publicly distanced herself from US President Donald Trump following disagreements over his foreign policy rhetoric. Analysts believe the development could encourage closer coordination between Rome and Paris within the European Union.

Despite progress, differences remain on issues such as migration policy and military support for Ukraine. Italy opposes deploying troops to Ukraine even in a post-war security arrangement, while France has been more open to such discussions.

During the summit, the two countries were expected to sign agreements covering defense cooperation, including support for the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system supplied to Ukraine. Additional agreements focus on nuclear energy collaboration and the development of a European satellite initiative designed to compete with private systems such as Starlink.

Political observers describe the meeting as an effort to transform a cautious rapprochement into a more structured partnership at a time when Europe faces growing security, economic, and strategic challenges.